Lights and masks

Now is the Christmas season. One the radio and at Department stores, Christmas music is continuously playing. The lights in these photos are from Kobe. They are not Christmas lights, but they reminded me of Christmas lights, so I posted them on the blog. Many Japanese people go to Kobe to see the BIG illumination. I have never been there, but I heard it is really beautiful. BUT packed! jammed!! unbelievably crowded with people!!! So prepare yourself for shoulder-to-shoulder walking if you go! I might have said this before in a previous blog, but I recommend the smaller more "at-home" atmosphere of the Nakanoshima Christmas lights near the Osaka City Hall, which is about a 10 minute walk from here.
While on the topic going out to see the winter lights, I`d also like to say BE CAREFUL of the cold and bundle up when you go outside!! Now the flu is going around. I read in the newspaper that it is about 1 month earlier than usual. Already, some Elementary Schools have been shut down temporarily because too many of the children have the flu. (So many children getting sick could be prevented though IF they didn`t have to wear SHORTS to school in the winter!! It`s true!!! Many Japanese schools have a school uniform which the students must wear. And in the winter, some Elementary schools require shorts!!! Stupid!!! Whoever thought of that brilliant idea must have been a real brain scientist!) Anyway, if you get the flu, one way to prevent the flu from spreading to other people is to wear a mask! The mask looks kind of strange, and isn`t exactly the coolest look I have ever seen, but if you want to be considerate and think of the well-fare of other people, and don`t want to give your bad germs to other people, I think that wearing a mask is a good idea! I gotta go to the pharmacy now to buy me a pack of masks! See ya and have a good weekend!